Chapter Eleven
Rock and RollIt had taken the remainder of the day to cross the ocean, and now as night set in Link, Malon, and the others were setting up camp in one of the canyons their journey had led to. They had moved from a vast expanse of water to a vast mountain range, but by now they were getting used to the strange turns their quest took. They had landed the air-bikes in a circle on the terrain, where Link proceeded to make a fire.
"You know," Numaru said, "I've been wondering; here in the Sacred Realm, we do not need food, or water, or even air, yet for some reason we still need rest. Why is that, do you suppose?"
It was Shrike who answered, as he removed his swords from his back. "We're here in our spiritual forms, remember. Even the spirit may grow weary."
"Yeah, well if you ask me, the spirit sure feels like the body," Malon replied, stifling a yawn. She sat down beside Numaru and turned to Link. "About how much farther, do you reckon?"
Link shrugged as he plopped down next to her, adding more magic to the fire. "I can't tell. My mark is throbbing exactly the same. All I know is that we're still on the right track."
"And what about Necron?" Mattalla queried. "He is still following us. We must figure out a way to lose him, if not defeat him altogether."
"Shouldn't be too hard to lose him in this maze," Zakro grumbled. Being forced to leave the ocean had put him in an even surlier mood than usual. "We'll be lucky to get out ourselves."
"None of that will matter if we don't get to the Triforce," Link stated. "It's our priority right now. What we need to figure out is how we're going to find it. I highly doubt it's as easy as simply following my mark."
Shrike nodded in agreement. "I agree. In comparison, our journey has been far too easy." Ignoring Malon's noises of protest he continued. "We've been given clues in almost every area we've visited; the castle, Navi, the sunken ship. It's as if someone is leading us on. There must be more to finding the Triforce than this."
"But all of the clues have been good, so far," Malon pointed out. "Navi confirmed what we found in the castle…" she paused, choking back a sob, "…and that's the biggest clue we've had yet."
"Do you have any insights, Link?" Numaru asked.
"I do have one insight," he replied. "I believe it would be a good idea if we all got some rest while we can. Necron may need us alive for the moment, but that might change any minute. We might as well sleep under his 'protection'."
"Now that's a plan!" Mattalla yawned deeply. "Who will take the first watch?"
"I will," grumbled Zakro. "I'm not that tired anyway."
"Very well," Numaru agreed. "Wake me in a couple hours to relieve you."
"Wake all of us if you need anything," Malon added.
Zakro snorted. "Please. I think I can take care of a little watchdog duty. What's the worse that can happen?"
* * *
"'A little watch-dog duty' he says. 'What's the worse that can happen' he says…"
"Hey!" Zakro retorted angrily. "It wasn't my fault! How was I to know they could dig through the ground?"
Mattalla tried to roar a response, but the words were muffled by the muzzle over his mouth. They were being carried through a series of winding tunnels, lit duly by scattered torches along the walls. The smaller companions were bound by strong cords of rope and were being carried on the shoulders of their captors. Mattalla, who had been muzzled to his constant threats and obscenities, was tied with heavy iron chains and was roughly dragged along the ground.
"Would you all just be quiet for a minute?" Malon ordered. "We need to figure out a way to get back to the air-bikes. Zakro, what exactly happened?"
"I told you, they just sprung up underneath me! I cried out, but by then they were all over me. I didn't get a good look at them."
"And then they did the same to us," Shrike finished, gently twisting in his bonds. Of all the companions, he was currently the calmest. "The fact that we're still alive bodes well for us; there's a chance we can talk our way out of this once we reach our destination."
"I hope so," Malon replied, "'Cause without our weapons, I don't think we have much of chance escaping any other way. Link, you got any ideas?" She twisted her head to and fro, looking for him. Seeing her puzzlement, Shrike, Numaru, and Zakro did the same.
It was Zakro who spoke first. "Where in blazes did he go?"
* * *
By the time they had reached their destination, Link's fate had become the least of their worries. Their captors stopped in a pitch-black room or chamber of some sort, and had unceremoniously dropped them to the ground. There they waited in the darkness for something to happen.
"Whose hand is this?"
"Mine. Who's is this?"
"Ow! Damn it, Numaru, that's my eye!"
"Quiet Zakro," Shrike hissed. "Someone's coming."
They all stopped their squirming and listened, and sure enough they heard the soft steps of someone coming towards them. "Hmm," a high-pitched voice emerged from the darkness. "Five little fishes, tied tight as can be, and if I'm correct, 'tis the Chosen I see."
"Who are you, fiend?" Numaru called defiantly. "Show yourself, you coward."
"Hmm, a fire-brand tongue the desert one has, almost as hot as the farmer girl's…"
"Hey!" Malon yelled angrily. "What do you want with us? For the last time, show yourself!"
They heard a squeaky laugh, followed by a bright flash as a fire was lit. The five companions twisted around to see what had joined them. The creature was short—no more than two feet tall—and extremely thin. It walked upright on two legs, and had a beak like a cuccoo, but its skin was slick and scaly like a snake's. Bright yellow eyes stared at them, and the beak twisted into a smile. In the dim light of the torch, the creature looked eerie and a little frightening. It started to speak again. "Hmm, seen me you have, as you had requested, but it seems far too easy that the Chosen were bested."
Mattalla, who was still muzzled, tried to say something in response, but the words were incoherent. Instead, Shrike spoke. "Was it you who had us brought here?"
Again, the creature laughed "Hmm, it was not Bazillo who ordered you here, but you need not worry, for your host is near."
"Bazillo…" Malon repeated. "Is that your name?" She was answered by another laugh. "How do you know so much about us, Bazillo? Can you help us out of here?"
"Hmm, your legend is known, well known to us here, but to help you escape I can't do that my dear."
"Will you stop rhyming?" Zakro yelled. "Give us a straight answer, or leave us alone to die in this hole!"
Bazillo's laughter was even louder this time. "Hmm, silly little fishy, rhyming is more fun, but you shall not die here, your work is not done." He skipped happily over to Mattalla and sat on the Goron's stomach. "Hmm, come has Bazillo, to give you a hand, so that you may complete your quest in this land."
While the others were quickly losing their patience, Shrike addressed the little creature with a calm tone. "Any help you can give us will be appreciated, Bazillo. Please, go on."
"Hmm, I like the Sheikah, I like him indeed, so Bazillo will tell you exactly what you need."
"Please," Malon pleaded, "Go on."
Bazillo laughed even more and licked his beak with a forked tongue. "Hmm, for the red-headed beauty I'll do much more than tell, but I'm afraid I can't stay for much more than a spell. So instead listen well, for I must talk quite fast, of a prophecy foretold in ages long past."
"What once was destroyed may yet still be whole, but the group must stay true and remember their goal. There is only one way for the Hero to win, and to do that he must find the answer within. What once was broken must soon be restored, if there is to be a chance against the Evil One's hoard. The Three will divide, as has happened before, and open the way through the one final door. Evil still has a chance, for once the Hero has died, that chance will up to the Chosen to decide."
With that, Bazillo fell silent, and the others waited for him to continue. Finally, with a smile and a nod, he doused his torch. "Hmm, well I must confess that I have had much fun, but my time with you legends is over, it's done. I'll leave you now to your host, here he comes, listen carefully and you'll hear the sound of his drums."
"Bazillo!" Malon called into the darkness, "Wait! Help us out of here!" Unfortunately, there was no response. The five of them were once again alone in the darkness.
"Fat lot of good that did us," Zakro grumbled.
"On the contrary, I believe it will do us a lot of good," Numaru stated. "We just need the time to…" She was cut short by the thumping of drums, beating out a slow, steady beat. The sound echoed off the walls, as if coming at them from all directions. The sound steadily became louder, until it was almost deafening. Suddenly a flash of light erupted in their vision, blinding them. When Malon opened her eyes, there were spots before them, but she could clearly make out what had happened.
The companions were on the floor of a large, circular auditorium, the rows of seats reaching all the way to the high ceiling. Large, hairy bodies filled most of those seats. For a second she though they were the rat-men, but when she looked closer, that the looked more like giant moles. They had sharp, protruding teeth, and the claws of each hand were almost a foot in length and sharp as daggers. They were yelling and jeering at the prisoners. Many were removing dark blindfolds as the lights once again dimmed.
"The light must hurt their eyes," Malon surmised. "No wonder the dig through the ground like Zakro said."
"SILENCE!" a deep voice boomed over the crowd. Malon's and the others' attention was drawn to a large dais situated along the lower rows. Sitting in the throne was a large, blonde mole-creature, wrapped in a purple cape and eyeing the captives. It appeared that this was their king. He turned his dark gaze on the Chosen. "You, strange creatures…we found you in our territory, riding unholy creatures of iron, bringing with you a demon out of legend!" He pointed at Mattalla. "With what foul magic did you summon the Rock-Demon, and why do you dare to attack the kingdom of the Moliaraza?"
This was followed by a roar from the crowd. Zakro looked about to say something, but Shrike kicked him in the shins as he struggled to sit up in his bonds. "My lord," he said in a humble voice. "My lord, we meant no intrusion into your great realm. We are simply travelers passing through your kingdom. Forgive us our trespass, and permit us to journey through your realm."
The crowed jeered at them, and the king waited for it to die down before he spoke. "You speak well, over-worlder, but such a trespass will not be ignored. You and your demon shall be destroyed!" Again, the crowd exploded into cheers.
"Wait!" Malon yelled over the noise. "What did you do with the other man who was with us?"
Somehow, the king heard her, and held up his hands for silence. "What other? We found only you five. Do you mean to tell me that there is another trespasser in our kingdom?"
"Just one."
Both the king and the companions were shocked at the arrival of the other voice. It took Malon a moment to register who it belonged to. "Link!"
"Cover your eyes!" The five companions didn't question but merely obeyed. The next instant, even behind her closed eyes, Malon saw a flash of light strike the ground and expand throughout the chamber, followed quickly by hundreds of angry and painful screams. A few moments later, she was free. Opening her eyes, she saw the Moliarazians clutching at their faces and screaming in pain. She stood up and saw that Shrike, Numaru, and Zakro were free, and Link was just removing the muzzle from Mattalla's mouth.
"Come on!" Link commanded, "The Light Arrow won't last much longer. We need to get back to the camp!" Sword drawn, he began running in the direction Malon assumed they had been entered from.
"Don't let them escape!" the king bellowed. "Kill the over-worlders! Kill the demon!"
The reunited companions sprinted done the earthy corridor, the blue light of the Master Sword guiding their way. Already they could here the heavy footsteps of their pursuers. "They're gaining on us!" Mattalla called from the rear. "They must have other short-cuts!"
An idea struck Malon. "Link, pass me a bomb." He didn't bother to question, as if realizing what she was up to. He took one from his pouch and passed it to her.
"Give us a moment to find cover," he said, and led the others on while she stayed behind. She crouched down and picked up a rock from the floor, striking it against her shin guard to create a spark. After a few tries, the bomb was lit. Malon crammed it into a small crevice in a wall and sprinted after her friends. A few seconds later, the explosion rocked the passage, as dust and small debris fell over her. She hadn't run far when she felt something grab her arm and yank her to the side. She found herself in Link's arms as the others congratulated her.
"Well done, Sworn-Sister Malon!" Mattalla said. "That will show those vermin to wake us from our sleep."
"Yes, good plan," Zakro said quickly. He then turned his gaze on Link. "And where were you during that whole little party with the moles?"
"I heard your yell just in time," Link answered. "I managed to get out of their way and hide. After, I followed your trail into the cavern. Once they stopped I found a place to hide and see what would happen. You know the rest. What happened with you?"
Shrike quickly explained their capture and then in greater detail their encounter with Bazillo. Link nodded thoughtfully once he was finished, then rose to his feet. "Come on, Malon's diversion won't last much longer. Your weapons and the air-bikes are still at camp. It's not much farther." And they were off, dashing through the rocky cavern.
A few minutes later Link brought them to a stop and pointed to the ceiling. They looked up and saw a large hole, the one they had obviously been brought down. "How are we going to get up there?" Numaru asked, looking over her shoulder as the sound of their pursuers returned.
"Taken care of," Link assured. "I already created a warp point up top. Mattalla, grab my arm." The Goron complied, and a moment later they had disappeared in a flash of green light. They waited a few seconds, and then Link dropped back through the hole. "Alright, Malon first."
Not quite understanding, she walked up to him. He hooked an arm around her waist as she wrapped hers around her neck. Unhooking his longshot, he pointed it directly through the hole. "Ready Mattalla?"
"Ready!"
He pulled the trigger, letting the chain fly. Once he felt Mattalla grab hold of the chain, he released the trigger, pulling himself and Malon into the air. A few seconds later, Mattalla had grabbed Malon from the edge and Link was back down the hole. He repeated the process with the other four companions, and soon they were retrieving their weapons from where they had left them.
They had no sooner retrieved their gear than the ground exploded around them as Moliarazian warriors sprang up from the dirt, slashing with their claws, trapping them in their circle. The companions attacked, weapons flashing in the moonlight.
"We can't keep this up for long," Mattalla said, smashing a creature over the head with his hammer. Another popped up in his place. "They are coming like excrement through a dodongo!"
"Just buy me some space!" Link replied as he beheaded another. He flipped backwards into the middle of the ring and withdrew his bow and another arrow. He fitted it and pumped it full of magic once again. "Cover your eyes!" The Light Arrow soared through the air, striking one of the creatures as it exploded in a radiant glow. Like before, the flash blinded the Moliarazians, and the six warriors were able to mount their vehicles. They were soon airborne, flying once again in the direction of the Triforce.
"Well," Numaru said once they were a good distance away, "We learned one thing from this."
"And that was?" Mattalla replied.
"Never let Zakro have first watch."
"IT WASN"T MY FAULT!"
* * *
A few hours later, Necron was surveying the battlefield. He rose from the dismembered arm he had been examining. "We shall have to return to this place and discover more about these creatures," he mused to no one in particular, even though Shumbo was standing next to him. "For the time being however…" he turned to the mage. "What can you tell me, Shumbo?"
"As you know, great one, it is difficult to detect a single source of magic in an world where it is so abundant. However, I do detect a large burst of energy having occurred here, one more powerful than any I have yet to experience in this realm." Necron shot him a look. "Besides your own, my lord."
"So the boy is alive. That is all I wanted to know." He mounted his air-bike. "Come, Shumbo. We must return to the pursuit."
"Hmm, following children will indeed work quite well, but it seems far to boring for so wise a general."
Necron spun at the high voice. Seeing nothing, his gaze moved back to its original focus. However, instead of merely seeing the front of his air-bike, he saw instead a small, lizard-like creature perched on its tip. His eyes blazed behind his mask. "Bazillo," he hissed. "I though my men had killed you back in the forest."
The diminutive creature chuckled. "Hmm, it will take more than three goons to make Bazillo die, for none in this realm is as crafty as I."
"What do you want, vermin?"
Again Bazillo laughed, scratching under his beak. "Hmm, to warn you I have come in a sense of fair play, for it will not be you who will win on this day."
His anger changing into annoyance, Necron replied, "If you mean this quest for the Triforce, then you are wrong, sprite. These are children. I brought all of Hyrule to its knees, and I do not think six little whelps will be too difficult."
"Hmm, old you may be, and experienced you are, but wiser is Bazillo and the goddesses by far. You think you will win, in destiny's game, but I swear that that boy will bring you much shame. For though you have been here a very long while, I have existed since Hyrule was compiled. A pox on my home, your presence has been, and I swear to you now that the Chosen will win."
Necron fired a bolt of magic at Bazillo, but the creature had already disappeared. Fuming, he turned on Shumbo, who was cowering on his own vehicle. "Back in the sky!" he commanded, "And prepare the weapon. No more 'cat and mouse' games. Tomorrow, the Chosen die, and mark or no mark, we will find the Triforce and I shall have my revenge!"